misschien

Misschien is a Dutch adverb meaning perhaps or maybe. It is used to express uncertainty about a statement, prediction, or expectation, often signaling that something is not certain.

In sentences, misschien can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a clause. Examples include "Misschien gaat hij morgen" (Perhaps he will go tomorrow) and "Het gaat misschien regenen" (It might rain). It can also modify a verb phrase in subordinate or main clauses, and it is commonly used in both formal and informal speech. In Flemish Dutch, the word functions similarly and is widespread in everyday language.

Synonyms and related terms include mogelijk (possibly), wellicht (perhaps, more hedged), and waarschijnlijk (likely, more certain). The nuance of misschien lies in indicating possibility rather than probability; it leaves room for doubt rather than asserting likelihood.

Etymology and forms: the standard modern spelling is missch ien? The current form is miss h ien? The spelling has evolved; historically there have been variants such as miskien, which appear in older texts. The modern form néanmoins is universally used in contemporary Dutch; the word is considered a stable part of the language.

See also: in linguistic discussions, misschien is categorized as an epistemic adverb expressing modality. It is commonly contrasted with stronger expressions of certainty or probability, and with words meaning definite statements.

Overall, misschien is a common, neutral hedge in Dutch that helps speakers convey uncertainty and conditional possibility in everyday discourse.